Associate Landscape Architect

About the role

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice. The Associate Landscape Architect serves as a key professional within the department by leading the planning, design, and implementation of complex landscape architecture projects that support the City's parks and other public spaces. This position works collaboratively with internal departments, outside agencies, consultants, and the public to ensure projects meet regulatory requirements, design standards, and community needs. In addition to managing projects from concept through construction, the Associate Landscape Architect provides technical guidance and helps ensure high-quality project delivery. By applying sound professional judgment and independent decision-making, this role contributes to the department's mission of creating safe, functional, and sustainable public environments.

Ideal candidate statement

The ideal candidate will be a licensed Landscape Architect with strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and demonstrated experience managing complex landscape architectural projects from planning through construction. They are an effective leader and collaborator who can mentor staff while building productive relationships with City departments, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be skilled in problem-solving, project coordination, and public communication, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable, and community-focused design solutions. They will be organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities while ensuring compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and project objectives.

Distinguishing characteristics

Landscape Assistant: This is the journey level in the professional landscape architectural series not requiring registration. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower class of Junior Landscape Assistant. Incumbents in this class perform moderately difficult professional landscape architectural work. A Landscape Assistant is normally considered to be on a training status. As assigned responsibilities and breadth of knowledge increase with experience, and registration is received, an incumbent may reasonably expect to be reassigned to the next higher class of Associate Landscape Architect.

Associate Landscape Architect: This is the full journey level in the landscape architectural series requiring registration. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower class of Landscape Assistant, or, when filled from the outside, require prior advanced professional landscape architectural work experience. An Associate Landscape Architect works under general supervision and is expected to complete complex landscape architectural assignments requiring the use of judgment and initiative in developing solutions to problems, interpreting general policies, and determining priorities for work assignments. Work in this class is distinguished from that of the Landscape Assistant by the greater complexity of the assignments received and the greater independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate.

Supervision received and exercised

Direction is provided by a higher level professional landscape architect or a management position. Responsibilities of an Associate Landscape Architect include the direct and indirect supervision of lower level professional landscape architects, technical personnel, and college student trainees and interns. Responsibilities of a Landscape Assistant may include the technical or functional supervision of technical personnel and/or college student trainees or interns.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Supervise and participate in the preparation of detailed and complex site plans, master plans, construction drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for the development of parks, plazas, medians, and other landscape architectural projects.
• Supervise and participate in the design of landscape architectural elements including layout, grading, drainage, planting, irrigation, paving, and construction detailing for parks, plazas, medians, and other outdoor public spaces.
• Prepare sketches, preliminary drawings, and schematic designs.
• Review landscape plans to insure compliance with regulations and requirements.
• Inspect in progress field work to insure proper interpretation and compliance with plans and specifications, quality of materials, and workmanship. Suggest design changes or improvements as necessary.
• Conduct studies and prepare reports and recommendations concerning landscape architectural needs and/or concerns of the City; prepare studies in connection with park acquisition and development.
• Prepare ecological studies, environmental impact statements, and feasibility reports pertaining to landscape architectural projects.
• Confer with other City departments, governmental and community agencies, and contractors involved in the development of landscape architectural projects; coordinate landscaping work with other phases of development projects.
• Facilitate public presentations and/or represent the department at various meetings to explain landscape development projects.
• Assign routine investigation, design, and drafting tasks to professional subordinates; review completed work; assist in the solution of difficult problems.
• Order survey, mapping, and data collection.
• Coordinate planning, design, and construction activities with other City departments, divisions, and sections and with outside agencies.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned personnel.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Qualifications — Landscape Assistant

Knowledge of:

• Principles, techniques, and methods of landscape architectural design, construction, installation, and maintenance.
• Plant materials appropriate to various landscape architectural projects.
• Laws, regulations, and requirements applicable to developing, contracting, constructing, and maintaining landscape architectural projects.
• Principles of report writing.
• Principles of supervision and training.

Ability to:

• Prepare detailed landscape architectural drawings including conceptual site plans, profiles, sketches, color renderings, and prepare technical construction specifications, quantity take offs, and cost estimates.
• Review projects to ensure compliance with regulations and requirements.
• Prepare detailed written reports.
• Make effective oral presentations.
• Learn to operate computer programs used in landscape architectural work.
• Work effectively with administrative officials, contractors, employees, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Assign and review routine design and drafting projects completed by technical staff.

Experience and education: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: One year of experience in professional landscape architectural work.
• Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, or a closely related field.
• OR — Possession of a certificate of registration as a Landscape Architect in the State of California.

Qualifications — Associate Landscape Architect

Knowledge of: In addition to the qualifications for Landscape Assistant:

• Principles of planning, organizing, and administering major landscape architectural projects.
• Principles of employee performance evaluation, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
• Budget analysis, preparation, and administration.

Ability to:

• Establish long range division goals and project schedules; prepare project progress reports.
• Coordinate landscape projects with other City departments, governmental and community agencies, and contractors.
• Serve as departmental representative on various professional committees and during meetings; interpret departmental policies and regulations.
• Coordinate the architectural consultant selection process; review and evaluate the work of consultants.
• Assist in developing, preparing, and monitoring the division budget.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of subordinate professional and technical staff.

Experience: Three years of experience performing professional landscape architectural work.

Certificate: Possession of a certificate of registration as a Landscape Architect in the State of California.

Special qualifications (both classifications)

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the Class C License is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• Proof of the required certificate and/or license should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

Probationary period

Employees must successfully complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.